SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – Steven Apple has been named as the city’s new Planning Director, and is expected to begin his tenure on Feb. 21, city officials announced today.

Apple, 52, spent 20 years as the community development director in Solana Beach. He was among six finalists for the position, officials said.

Apple will take over from Interim Planning Director Bill Cunningham, who has been leading the department since the retirement of Molly Bogh in September.

During his previous tenure, Apple oversaw all land-use related activities in Solana Beach, as well as the preparation of the city’s general plan, San Juan Capistrano officials said.

“We are very excited that Steve has chosen to become part of our team here in the city,” City Manager Dave Adams said in a city release. “We had some outstanding candidates that were interviewed, but Steve’s 20 years of service in Solana Beach and his deep desire to help our community maintain its history and focus on quality of life issues caused him to rise to the surface.”

Apple has professed a love of the city’s “sense of place and historical continuity,” officials said, having visited the area several times with his wife and family.

“I will make recommendations and decisions after listening to all sides, based on our community standards, as further fine tuned by my public and private sector planning experience in Southern California,” Apple said in a city release.

Sean Emery started at the Register in 2006. As a community reporter he covered the city of San Juan Capistrano, before later moving to the Irvine city government and the Orange County Great Park beat. He's currently the night breaking news and crime reporter, covering incidents and issues countywide.

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